Nicole's Daybook ~ Final Edition

Outside my window... my neighbors are all trying to shovel themselves out after our massive snow storm last night. I paid a couple of dudes with snow shovels walking on the street $15 to dig out my car.

I am thinking... about what our move here will mean for our future.

I am thankful ... that my grandma took a turn for the better this past Saturday. She is still having her ups and downs, but it was sure nice to see her happy, smiling, and talking for a change.

I am wearing... my pjs and robe (at 1:30 p.m.) and I just don't think I am going to get out of them today.

I am planning...  to discontinue this blog after this post. I don't find myself very inspired to write on it anymore. Thank you to all of you who have followed me all these years. If you want to see a peek into our day, you can still stop over at Journey to Excellence. I will be posting there as normal and will probably just add a few of our personal activities to it.
 

I am creating... better use of some spaces in the house.

I am going... to give a shout-out to my Uncle Jon. He reads my blog every day, especially when he is out on the road. I saw him on Saturday at my niece's division championship basketball game (they won, btw, ... go Rylee!) and he told me he wanted to be mentioned on my blog. So, here you go, Uncle Jon! You have been mentioned!!!

I am reading... Lives of Value by Sharleen Cooper Cohen. I saw it in the back pocket of my dad's truck seat. I am assuming my mom read it in the car to/from Florida on one of their trips. If you are looking for it, mom, I have it.

I am praying... for God's love and protection.

From the learning rooms... Snow days and sick days.

Noticing that ...  healthy eating is now a way of life for us. Everybody's on board.

From the kitchen... I am putting a big ham in the crock pot and we are eating it for a few meals this week in various forms.

Around the house...  are sleeping dogs and kids home from school.

One of my favorite things... is snowy, wintry days. Good thing!

A few plans for the rest of the week... Our plans for the rest of the week will depend on the weather. I am hoping that things work out so that we can ALL go to Eli's Blue and Gold Banquet that was rescheduled to this coming Friday. 

From my picture journal.

Grandma and the kiddos at the top of a large snow hill last Friday!

Lots of women Daybook. See what they have to say at The Simple Woman's Daybook.

Getting By

Need a good English set BBC program to get you by until NEXT January when Downton Abbey returns? Try Lark Rise to Candleford. It is a British costume drama set in the 1880's about the two neighboring communities of Lark Rise and Candleford as seen through the eyes of a teenage girl who is moved from one place to the other.

Idaho Public Television has the entire series online for free. There are 40 episodes. The way I figure, you can watch one episode a week and then it will be time for Season 4 of Downton Abbey. An interesting fact is that one of the main characters of Lark Rise to Candleford is Brendan Coyle, who plays Bates on Downton Abbey.

I am really enjoying this series so far. Check it out!

My Husband (and my sister) are the BEST!

My sister's friend is selling Origami Owl custom jewelry and we salivated over the catalog a couple of weeks ago. I really, really wanted one! But, I am frugal to a fault and will hardly ever buy myself anything, especially if it is not on sale for cheap! (I don't mind spending, spending, spending on anyone and everyone else, I just won't do it for myself.) Even though I picked out the necklace, chain, and even the charms I wanted, I just couldn't justify spending $70 on myself.

Today my sister called and asked if I was going to be home because she was going to have her necklaces delivered to my house so that I could give them to her this weekend. When I answered the door, her friend was standing there with one box. She said, "This is from your husband."

After my husband left my parents' house that day, my sister texted him and told him that I really wanted one and that she would order him one for me whenever he wanted one. He had her go ahead and do it.

Isn't it pretty??? It's me in a necklace: a wedding ring, coffee cup, wine glass, puppy, and computer. I did go ahead and ask her to order me the little heart that says "Mom". That's the only thing missing.

Remember when I said that my husband and I are not mooshy-gooshy? I need to clarify ... He IS mushy-gooshy, I'm just not. I guess I just feel bad receiving gifts so I convince myself that I don't want them. But getting a surprise from your honey is a pretty great thing! And it's something that I should welcome more freely. Plus, I know it makes Rick feel great to give to me.

Thank you, babe, and Krissi .. I LOVE IT!!

For All My Downton Abbey Peeps ...

... especially if you are still grieving over Sunday night's finale. (And even if you don't watch the show, this is worth watching.)

Nicole's Daybook

Outside my window... there is a frigid cold wind! It's sunny, but brrrr .....

I am thinking... about how I am ready for a week in Florida. We need a break from school and I need some sunshine and relaxation with no schedule.

I am thankful ... that God doesn't leave us to wallow in our junk but instead speaks to us and gives us a heart to be a better version of ourselves.

I am wearing... gray yoga pants and a black Old Navy hoodie.

I am planning...  to keep up with our new healthy eating. The kids are doing great!
 

I am creating... a large cardboard pirate ship for the Blue and Gold Banquet. I totally did not want to do it (was hoping someone else would), but when it didn't get done the over-do-it side of me just couldn't stand it.

I am going... to run "to town" this afternoon to stock up on some necessities because we are supposed to get some nasty weather tomorrow and I have things I need for the weekend.

I am reading... The Green Shore by Natalie Bakopoulos; Attracting Birds to Your Backyard by Sally Roth, Ending the Food Fight by Robert Ludwig, M.D., Ph.D., Becoming a Titus 2 Woman by Martha Peace, and The Spiderwick Chronicles by Tony DiTerlizzi and Holly Black (Eli and Brynne's read-a-loud).

I am praying... about whether I should apply to be on the board of our Co-op. I would like to learn the inner-workings of one that is well run so that I can possibly work to start a small one closer to here, where we live.

From the learning rooms... We celebrated our 100th day of school yesterday. This rest of the week we are focusing on Abraham Lincoln and staying steady with our other subjects.

Noticing that ...  in just one week of our revised diet and healthy eating, Brynne's appetite has decreased. You know how when you eat less then it takes less to fill up your stomach? She is hardly snacking at all. She told me when she went to bed that she hadn't had any of her bedtime snack and she wasn't hungry at all. I am so proud of her for working so hard on these changes! And, she ate lettuce on her sandwich today and said she LIKED it! Hooray!! THAT is a victory for that non-vegetable eater!

From the kitchen... Tuesday ~ leftover homemade chicken nuggets, homemade mac and cheese, and corn, 
Wednesday ~ potluck at church (taking pepperoni pizza muffins), 
Thursday ~ pork steak, veggie pasta, broccoli, 
Friday ~ Eli's Blue and Gold Banquet, 
Saturday ~ Rick and I out to dinner and the kids ... idk, 
Sunday ~ dinner at mom and dad's.

Around the house...  is laundry that needs done and put away. Always laundry!

One of my favorite things... is Downton Abbey and the season finale was last night. I won't give any spoilers (you're welcome, Jodi!), but, dang! Could we not have a little sustained happiness? And, Season 4 will not air until January 2014! Geez! At least Season 2 of Call the Midwife starts on March 31st.

A few plans for the rest of the week... Today I am preparing for us to not be able to leave the house for a few days because of impending weather. The kids and I are also spending some time at the Scout cabin today working on decorations for the Blue and Gold Banquet. We will have church tomorrow night, and then I might go watch my niece play basketball Thursday night for the District Championship. Rick is coming Friday, and Kyndal and Collin, and we are all going to the Blue and Gold Banquet. Saturday Rick and I have plans to go out to dinner. Then Sunday we'll go to church and eat at my parents', and then Rick will head back to Oklahoma. 

From my picture journal.

Mmm .. this looks good! I might have to make some tomorrow.

Lots of women Daybook. See what they have to say at The Simple Woman's Daybook.

Project 365 ~ Week 7

Monday, February 11th
I walked in the morning. We had a productive day of school. I did and put away lots of laundry. We walked to my mom's for lunch. Eli had Scouts in the evening and then we came home for showers and t.v. time until bed. Dawson went Valentine's Day shopping for Taylar.

Cozy up and read!

Tuesday, February 12th
Walking was colder than it has been, but we got it done! It was a cloudy, cold day, so we all just felt sluggish. We trudged through school, and got it all done, but not with a lot of excitement. I dealt with a "situation" with a substitute teacher at Dawson's school. (Man, I wish all of my kids were homeschooled right from the start and stayed that way until graduation.) After school Dawson hung out at Taylar's, got some great Valentine's gifts from her parents (new windshield wipers, windshield washer fluid, oil to remind him to get his oil changed, and power steering fluid). He went to work and the little kids and I vegged. I fixed dinner and the kids played until bed while I laid on the couch and read and watched t.v. Dawson and I watched The Following. (oooh .. it is so chilling!)

Some pirate lessons ... how hard it is to see with just one eye.

Wednesday, February 13th
It was cold for walking, but it sure felt great! I came home and got ready for the day. The kids went ahead and took their baths/showers so that we didn't have to do it after church. We were feeling much more motivated and had a great day of school! I made mini-brownie muffins for Co-op on Thursday. We put together Valentines for Co-op and decorated red gift bags with heart stickers to collect Valentines (I was lame this year). We opted out of dinner at church, just eating something easy at home, instead, and I had bell choir practice. I went to the nursing home to see my grandma and to take Dawson's Social Security Card to him. My grandma has taken a huge turn for the worse and now she doesn't know any of us. I talked with her, though, and hope that deep down she knows that she is loved. After Dawson got off work he went "to town" with his friend to get Taylar some flowers for Valentine's Day. After he got home I put the kids to bed, watched Survivor, and went to bed.

Some mornings it's just really hard to get started!

Thursday, February 14th
We had a busy, but nice Valentine's Day. The little kids and I had Co-op. Afterward we had fast food for dinner. Brynne went to my niece's basketball game and the rest of us vegged out. One exciting thing happened, though ... Brynne's other front tooth fell out while she was eating lunch. My last baby has officially grown up. Once their two front teeth are gone, well, they might as well be graduating from high school. It goes by that fast.

Dawson's favorite new thing .. his flashlight from Taylar.

Friday, February 15th
We finished up our week with a good day of school. Our cub scout den leader and I met at our house to discuss the upcoming Blue and Gold Banquet while our kids played. Then I got ready and went to a Co-op Mom's Night Out painting pottery. The kids stayed home with Dawson. After MNO I ran to Walmart since I was near one.

A bird map.

Saturday, February 16th
Dawson started his day early with a 6-1 shift at the nursing home. I had a busy day Saturday running errands. A highlight was going out to the Amish store. I love that place. I ran by my mom and dad's to take my dad some soap I bought him there, and picked up my new trivet that he had made for me. When I got home I spent the rest of the afternoon putting together all of Dawson's homeschool records from last year for my upcoming meeting with the school to get him credit for his classes he took last year. I made dinner and we called it a night.

My new favorite store.

Sunday, February 17th
It was a typical Sunday. We got up and went to church. After church I did a little bit of housework while the kids played. Then I just had to take a nap. We went to my parents' for dinner and home for t.v. and bed.

My new trivet! It is expandable so it can be small for one item or stretch to hold an entire hot dinner!

Be Mine!

Valentine's Day started off a little shaky when Dawson's car wouldn't start. He was out of gas. But, when I took him to school, we didn't know that yet. His gas gauge isn't accurate. He was so mad because he was taking flowers to Taylar to start their special day. I was kind of a third wheel.

Moving on .... the kids and I scrambled around because we had to get to Co-op early with some dessert for the lunch. It was just crazy trying to get out the door. But we made it, and the kids had a good time learning about St. Nicholas and St. Valentine in their Holidays Around the World Class. They exchanged Valentines with their friends and had some yummy treats. After learning about whales in their Water World class, they got to go out and play some fun hearts games.

When we got home, Dawson and I had some work to do to get his final gift prepared for Taylar (he had already given her some flowers, and had sapphire earrings to give her). Taylar loves fruit and a couple of weeks ago she mentioned that she wanted one of those fruit bouquets you see on t.v. Since they are pricey, we decided to make one ourselves. It turned out really good and she was so excited when she saw it. (And she ate almost the whole thing.)

Taylar bought Dawson new windshield wipers, washer fluid, oil, power steering fluid, and a new flashlight that he was obsessed with all night. They are such a funny couple.

During the day I was texting Collin back and forth all day as he asked me for advice and sent me pictures of things he was getting Kyndal. He got her some beautiful flowers, some candy, and he went and made her a Build-a-Bear. I thought that was very sweet!

I sent Dawson and Taylar to Sonic to buy us dinner (by this time I was wiped out). My parents, sister, and niece stopped by for a couple of minutes and Brynne went with them to Rylee's last home basketball game of the season. Eli played in his room, and I napped on the couch for a while. Then Dawson, Taylar, and I watched an episode of Chopped.

Rick and I aren't too mushy-gooshy ... so we exchanged some funny texts and talked various times throughout the day. He also bought me flowers on Saturday when he was here, so I looked at them several times throughout the day to remember him. We have spent holidays apart before, but Valentine's Day was kind of a stinky one.

So, I just concentrated on spending my day with my young people, and worked to make sure they had the happiest day possible!

Pandora ~ Some Morning Inspiration

Back in the early '90's, I fell in love with Phillips, Craig and Dean. Their worship music just speaks to me, and I love the way they harmonize. Beautiful! As of late I have found myself a little grouchy in the mornings, and unmotivated. I have put God on the back burner, but expecting Him to guide my days. I remember how I used to listen to worship music at home, or at work, or in the car. And, you just can't listen to worship music and be grouchy. It's just not possible!

So recently, I have been putting my computer in the bathroom with me, or my iPad if it's not being monopolized by small hands, and listening to Pandora. Pandora is free music, that you can customize to play a certain genre of songs.

Since Phillips, Craig and Dean is a band I absolutely love, I just type in "Phillips, Craig and Dean" in the search window and one of their songs comes up first. Then Pandora automatically plays music that is similar to something P,C&D would play. Those artists are Chris Tomlin (the King of worship music), Casting Crowns, Mercy Me, Hillsong, and more.

I am feeling uplifted each morning as we start our schoolwork, instead of discouraged and bogged down.

Try it!

Nicole's Daybook

Outside my window... it was cold walking this morning! No wind, but overcast and cold!

I am thinking... about how I wish I had motivation to actually do all of the projects I want to do around this house. So many things!!!

I am thankful ... for a sweet homeschooling comrade who is giving me a curriculum that I am needing (and was willing to buy from her), just to be a blessing to me. She won't even let me pay her for the postage to mail it.

I am wearing... black nylon workout pants, a long-sleeved white t-shirt layered with a breast cancer awareness t-shirt from Kyndal's pink night at her school the other night, a white zip-up hoodie and tennis shoes.

I am planning...  Eli's Blue and Gold Banquet decorations with our den leader. It's always just me and her doing things, and we have a lot to do.
 

I am creating... (helping create) a fruit bouquet for Taylar (from Dawson) for Valentine's Day.

I am going... to get the kids' Valentine's put together today for their exchange at Co-op on Thursday (Nothing fancy this year.)

I am reading... The Green Shore by Natalie Bakopoulos; Attracting Birds to Your Backyard by Sally Roth, Ending the Food Fight by Robert Ludwig, M.D., Ph.D., Becoming a Titus 2 Woman by Martha Peace, and The Spiderwick Chronicles by Tony DiTerlizzi and Holly Black (Eli and Brynne's read-a-loud).

I am praying... for God's Will for our future.

From the learning rooms... this week we are studying all about Maps. Our virtual book club author is David McPhail and we read Edward and the Pirates. So, we decided to use a free map unit study we found and learn all about maps while we were at it. I love when we decide to do this and then every subject we are learning about that week just happens to be related to our unit. It's like lessons just put themselves together for me.

Noticing that ...  if I want Brynne to have vegetables in her diet that I am just going to have to hide them. There is not ONE vegetable she likes! (She did say last night, though, that she wants to try lettuce on her burger the next time we have them.)

From the kitchen... Tuesday ~ chicken and avocado cigars, 
Wednesday ~ potluck at church (taking pepperoni pizza muffins), 
Thursday ~ fish tacos (for me) and leftover tacos for the kids, 
Friday ~ english muffin spinach and pepperoni pizzas, 
Saturday ~ hmmmm ... idk, 
Sunday ~ dinner at mom and dad's.

Around the house...  are little mini-bouquets of flowers in mason jars, from the bunch of flowers Rick brought me on Saturday. They brighten my day!

One of my favorite things... is Downton Abbey and the season finale is already next week! I am so sad!!

A few plans for the rest of the week... Another fairly uneventful week. Dawson works a couple of evenings. We had Scouts last night and church Wednesday night. Thursday night Brynne is going with my parents' to my niece's last home basketball game. We have Co-op on Thursday. I am going to a Homeschool Co-op mom's night out on Friday night to paint pottery. On Saturday we are meeting to finalize plans for the Blue and Gold Banquet.

From my picture journal.

What a lot of our days look like.

Lots of women Daybook. See what they have to say at The Simple Woman's Daybook.

Project 365 ~ Week 6

Monday, February 4th
I got back into my regular schedule of getting up and having my quiet time, riding my bike and walking. School was good. We went to my mom's to have lunch, and the weather was even nice enough that we walked/scootered there and back. I made a big pot of "throw everything in" vegetable soup and started watching the portion sizes of the foods the kids eat. Eli and I went to Cub Scouts while Brynne stayed home with Dawson and took a shower. Dawson went to his job interview and got the job! He will be a Dietary Aide at the nursing home in town. After Scouts Eli took a shower and the little kids watched WWE Monday Night Raw until bedtime. I watched The Biggest Loser and then read until midnight finishing my book.

Tuesday, February 5th
I did my morning routine, again, but this time my mom and our friend didn't know I was in the garage feeding the cat and they left me! I waited a bit and then rode my bike to the park where they were already halfway through their first lap. I walked the small loop until they came around and we finished our walk. The kids and I had a Lazy Tuesday kind of day doing school work (which means we were in our comfy clothes, wrapped up in blankets). We had NOTHING planned all day, so right after school I grabbed my new book, a cup of green tea, and hit the couch for some reading time. Dawson surprised me after school with a scrolled piece of paper tied with a ribbon .. it was an invitation for him to apply for National Honor Society based on his good grades!

Wednesday, February 6th
It was another successful day of routine. I started off my day with my bike ride and walk, then came home for a great day of school with the kids. After school Brynne and Eli each had a friend over while I made some zucchini muffins. Dawson's two buddies came over for a while. The little kids and I went to church for dinner and for bell choir practice. When we got home they took showers and then Eli watched WWE Main Event. They went to bed and Dawson and I watched the second episode of The Following.

Thursday, February 7th
It was raining, so no walking. We started school a little early, also, and did the 3R's before driving to Wbg (that's what I'll call it) for Co-op. We had some fun at our classes and then stopped by Aldi to replenish our fruit supply. As we had nothing planned for the evening, we just came home and did a little housework. The kids took baths, got to bed on time, and Dawson and I watched some t.v. before we went to bed.

Friday, February 8th
We ended our week with a good walk, but it was cold and windy! The kids and I put in a full day of school, and I did some housework. Rick arrived at about 6:00 p.m. and I said, "tag, you're it" as Brynne and I walked out the door to go to Kyndal's senior night at her school (for cheerleading.) We watched the game and I walked with her in the recognition ceremony. Brynne and I came home and I was exhausted! So, I promptly went to bed. Dawson started his new job.

Saturday, February 9th
I was SOOO tired all day. In fact, I didn't even get out of bed for the first time until 11:00 a.m., and then spent the rest of the day in and out of bed. I am wondering if I'm anemic, as I have been really fatigued and experiencing the same symptoms Kyndal was when she was diagnosed. Rick took the little kids to Subway and Walmart. Dawson went to Taylar's family BBQ. Rick brought me flowers for an early Valentine's Day (since I won't see him). I divided them up into three mason jars so I could have a mini-bouquet in the bedroom, kitchen, and on my desk. Then he and I ordered Chinese. I went back to bed and Rick and the kids played Wii until bedtime. I got up then and he and I watched Smash.

Sunday, February 10th
It was a much more energetic day. Dawson worked from 6 a.m. to 1 p.m. He found an elderly gentleman that he really likes, a former Army man. Rick, the kids, and I went to church. When we got home I did lesson plans while Rick and the kids played Wii. We went to mom and dad's for a delicious fish dinner and family time. Rick headed back to Oklahoma. Everybody got to bed on time and I watched Downton Abbey until I was too tired to finish watching it.

And that was our week! This one is starting out to be pretty similar. (Most of our weeks are this time of year.)